Slug spacing

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Joetech

Joetech

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Apr 13, 2007
142
Catalina 27 TR Lorain, Ohio
Right now my C-22 has a rope sewn into the sail that goes up the track in the mast. I'll be hauling out soon for the winter and I want to put in Eyelets and nylon slugs this winter. The current arrangement makes it impossible to single hand. I have to go to the foredeck and feed the rope into the slot. I tried a mainsail feeder I got from Schaeffer and it helps but not enough. The current arrangement also means when I drop the mail its all over the deck and a pain to tie up around the boom. Question is how far apart should they be? On larger boats I've sailed on they seem to be about a foot apart.
 
M

Mke

Mast Gates

Buy yourself a set of mast gates from Catalina Direct. When you bend the mainsail on your boat, the mast gates allow you to lower the main for reefing without having the slugs be in the way. Before I bought my mast gates, I had to leave the bottom slug out of the track so I could reef properly. Call a loft and speak to someone on what their spacing recommendations are. It may not be one of those critical things since the halyard tensions the luff and the slugs aren't really under all that much strain once the sail is raised and properly set.
 
Joetech

Joetech

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Apr 13, 2007
142
Catalina 27 TR Lorain, Ohio
thanks

I see what you mean by the halyard tension. As far as gates go, I have access to a machine shop. Fabricating a gate of stainless or Aluminum is not a problem.
 
B

Barry B.

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Feb 28, 2005
184
Catalina 22 1909 North East, Md.
Use screw type shackles!

Joetech, Try the screw on shackles to install your sail slugs, they clamp tightly around the boltrope and the screw goes through the shackle, the sail and screws into the other side of the shackle. They work great and do not damage the sail. I used this method to to install the sail slugs on my main 10 years ago and their still going strong. It is sure a lot easier than setting grommets in the sail, and if you don't like the spacing you can just move the screw shackles, can't do that once you install grommets. I can't remember what spacing I finally settled on but I can check tomorrow and and post it for you, the sail is in the boat out in the back yard. Here is a link to the type of shackle I am talking about but you should be able to get them from just about any marine supply store. Barry P. Broyles North East, Md. 1973 C22 #1909 Brighteyes
 
Bilbo

Bilbo

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Aug 29, 2005
1,265
Catalina 22 Ohio
yes

HI I just measured my OE mainsail and the slugs are this way. One at the headboard. One 5" below that. Spaced about 24" intervals. There are ten sail slugs altogether. They are attached with SS screw type shackles with plastic onserts. The original slugs are all-nylon round sail slugs but I would recommend the ones with the stainless bail as they are more sturdy and more flexible. Slugs from Sailrite catalog... Exact replacement: 23307 10 Slug Nylon Round 5/16" Better: 23312 1 Slug Bail SS With Rocker 5/16"  The headboard has just a hole through for the topmost shackle. The sail has the shackles attached with about 1/4" hole SS grommets through the sail behind the bolt rope in all 9 places below the headboard. The grommets aren't backed with any extra fabric reinforcemnt for their location in the sail. The bolt rope would suffice for this I suppose.
 
B

Barry B.

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Feb 28, 2005
184
Catalina 22 1909 North East, Md.
Mast gates?

Bilbo, The first year, 1995 or 96, that I used the sail slugs I did not have mast gates and everything worked great except for reefing, what an improvement over feeding the bolt rope. In Sept. or Oct. I made a set of mast gates from some aluminum carpet or tile edge molding, another dramatic improvement, I will never be without them. There are sailors in my C22 fleet that do it both ways, but I would advise anyone changing over to slugs to try it both ways before settling on one or the other. Barry P. Broyles North East, Md. 1973 C22 #1909 Brighteyes
 
Bilbo

Bilbo

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Aug 29, 2005
1,265
Catalina 22 Ohio
Hi Barry

I have a bolt rope in my boom 9As is typical I guess) and feeding that is not a joy. Since I figured out the procedure with the slugs, (One hand over the other) Loading the slugs into the mast is quick. I seriously considered the mast gates but I can't see that they'd help my reefing setup. I added a line for single handed reefing which works fairly well without having the need to lower that bottom slug any. Maybe this has to do with the boom height but I'm not sure. I do have a stop that I place just above that slot and tighten it with a pliers. It also has a tether (I lost two of them into the water and rather not do that again) I have added the straps for the other two inside reefing grommets but I prefer to keep those ties fairly loose to have some bagginess in the sail draft. I guess that what I'm saying is that with the sail cover on at the dock or with the reefing, I don't need to lower the slugs below that sail stop but I can see where the gates would work very well for some. I think that what I'm saying is that with certain improvements, I try to think about the use of the device, the need for it and then decide on whether it's worth using it.As one example, I've heard that it's a good idea to add keel guides to the trailer. I bought some of those PVC uprights and they worked very nicely for aligning the boat. I don't think that I'm adding more weight to the trailer with keel guides. As another example, my lines leading aft to the cockpit, are an issue I'm thinking about and have not decided on my best solution to this issue. I'v eseen other boats on the internet and close up and I'm still not sure what I'm going to do. I can say that I like a simple uncluttered function and that is going to be my top priority.
 
B

Barry B.

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Feb 28, 2005
184
Catalina 22 1909 North East, Md.
E-mail Me

Bilbo, Click on my member name in the left hand column to access my owner profile than click the E-mail button at the bottom of the page and send me your E-mail address and I will send you some info on setting the boat up so you don't have to leave the cockpit. I ran all of my lines back to the cabin top: halyards, downhauls, reefing lines, etc. I started this project the season after adding the sail slugs.
 
Dave Groshong

Dave Groshong

SBO Staff
Staff member
Jan 25, 2007
1,867
Catalina 22 Seattle
Hey Joe

My slides are placed 18 inches apart, a couple extra near the headboard. Although you won't see them on our site yet, we can offer the slides and screw on shackles for $1.50/ea. Call me if you'd like to order. Our new web page for C22's is out now, check it out: http://shop.catalinaowners.com/c22/ Dave Groshong Customer Service SailboatOwners.com Toll Free 877-932-7245 ext.116, Mon-Fri, 9-5 Pacific. dave@sailboatowners.com
 
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